2011 Annual Conference Offering:
New Places
for New People

 

Now in the Lord
you are light...  

-- Ephesians 5:8

We in Mississippi have a wonderful tradition of overflowing generosity as we gather for Annual Conference. The Annual Conference Offering has totaled over $100,000 for the past six years, reaching as high as $171,769 in 2005.

The 2011 Annual Conference Offering is designated for evangelism: new places for new people to meet Christ and to grow in Christ.

The offering will be used for the planting of new churches in Russia, in Nicaragua, and in Africa as well as here in Mississippi. New people are particularly drawn to Christ through new groups and new churches.

The Annual Conference Offering will be received during the evening worship service on Friday, June 10.

Every church can be a center for evangelism, creating new groups and settings for new people. Our annual conference teachers and preachers will inspire us to be vibrant evangelists in every community in Mississippi.

Thank you for your prayers and your generosity in every church as we move toward the 2011 Session of The Mississippi Annual Conference.

With gratitude for your share in Christ's ministry,

Hope Morgan Ward    

 

To comment, link on the Bishop's Blog page here. 

Planning a Group Meal or Need a Meeting Room? Here's How to Make Your Request:  

If you are an agency, seminary, or other United Methodist organization and you plan to host a meal while at the 2011 Annual Conference. The following information is being provided to assist you in planning your event.  SMG Catering is the official catering service for the Jackson Convention Complex. We have secured several meal options to ensure your event is a success. If your organization is interested in hosting an event or meeting while at Annual Conference please contact Brenda McGloster at brenda@mississippi-umc.org  or call 601-354-0515 ext 14.

 

Conference will begin 10 a.m. Friday Morning (June 10, 2011) and conclude Sunday after the Ordering of Ministry Service (June 12, 2011).  The deadline for scheduling a meal or requesting a meeting room for annual conference is May 20, 2011.
These events must be arranged prior to Annual Conference through Connectional Ministries.

Leadership Summit to Draw Global Participation

A summit for those interested in the role of annual (regional) conferences and local churches in meeting challenges and making short-term and long-range changes will be webcast from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Time on April 6, with conversation groups organized in episcopal areas. Those interested in participating in the Leadership Summit should call their district office.

The United Methodist Church Leadership Summit is sponsored by the denomination's Council of Bishops in cooperation with the Connectional Table. Click here for more information.

Hattiesburg District Lay Speaking
School Set for April 16                

 

Hattiesburg District Lay Speaking School will be held April 16 at Laurel First UMC. The Basic Course will be taught by Ryan Grayson, Henrietta Brown will teach Lay Speakers Preach, Elaine Beatty will teach Lay Speakers Lead Worship, and Shronda Turner will teach Lay Speakers Grow Spiritually Through Daily Discipline.

The deadline for registration is April 8. Call 601-264-9181 for a brochure, or email trudy@thehour.org. There is no charge for lay speakers in the Hattiesburg District. Lay speakers from churches outside the Hattiesburg District will pay $30.

Sixth Annual Mississippi Conference Bike Ride
(Arise, Shine, Ride!)      

Save the date for the 6th annual Bike Race. This year's race will take the Natchez Trace Multi-Purpose Trail in Ridgeland on Saturday, May 7, 2011, 10 a.m.

Registration is at the Old Trace Park. The ride begins there and will go past the Overlook at the Ross Barnett Reservoir through beautiful wooded routes to the Ridgeland Ranger Station and beyond, if desired. No cars are allowed on the trail; any age Is welcome. Ride whatever distance you wish. Cost is $12 including t-shirt. Please register before April 20, 2011.

For more information call 662-404-4671 or 601-738-0813.

Walden Chapel Youth Department Plans Youth Praise Extravaganza  

 

Area choirs, groups, praise teams/dancers/steppers are invited to participate in the Walden Chapel Youth Praise Extravaganza on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 6 p.m. The special guest for this occasion will be the Alcorn State University Interfaith Gospel Choir. Come lift of the name of the Lord!

For additional information please contact: Youth Choir Director, Tamara Parker at thowardparker@yahoo.com. Walden Chapel UMC is located at 308 Franklin Road, Goodman, MS.

For more information call 662-472-2868.

United Methodist Women Invited
to Journey to Brazil

Join United Methodist Women in São Paulo and Fortaleza on an Ubuntu Explorer Journey with the Confederation of Methodist Women in Brazil Sept. 18 - 30. Experience Brazil and its people while working alongside Brazilian Methodist women in their campaign to raise awareness about violence against women, youth and children.

• Learn about the root causes of human trafficking, its criminal tentacles in the United States and take action to advocate for its victims.
• Volunteer with human trafficking survivor service providers.
• Participate in educational trafficking prevention activities with women and children.
• Strengthen the capacity of all to combat human trafficking at the global level.

Estimated cost for the excursion is $3,000, which includes international airfare and all accommodations in Brazil.

Contact Betty Gittens at 212-870-3719 or bgittens@unitedmethodistwomen.org.

Application deadline is May 31.

Black Marriage Day 2011: It Takes Two

By: Rev. L. Fitzgerald Lovett

The Mississippi Conference's committee on Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SBC21) hosted several events to celebrate Black Marriage Day 2011. More than fifty churches across Mississippi celebrated the joy of marriage.

America has seen a radical drop in the percentage of men and women who choose marriage. Also, during the same time period, the percentage of children born to single parent homes has increased. Studies show that while 35 percent of Americans between the age of 24 and 34 have never been married, that percentage increases to 54 percent for African Americans in the same age group. Additionally, married couples head 76 percent of our American families, while African American married couples head only 47.9 percent of American families.

While the overall rate for single parent households in America has increased for all children, it is especially alarming among African Americans. Between 1960 and 1995, the number of African American children living with two married parents dropped from 75 percent to 33 percent. At this moment, 69 percent of African American births are to single mothers as compared to 33 percent nationally.

The U.S. government recognizing these statistics started the Healthy Marriage Initiative in 2002. Wedded Bliss also recognized those statistics, and in 2003 they started Black Marriage Day. It is celebrated the fourth Sunday of March each year. This year more than 400 communities across the country organized events to celebrate Black Marriage Day. Rev. Lovett and Walden Chapel had a wonderful Marriage Day program follow by a reception for the couples. Rev. W. William and Rollins UMC held a Marriage Day prayer breakfast. March 27, is not the end of Black Marriage Day, but just the beginning, join our team by contact Rev. L. Fitzgerald Lovett at Fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org or call 662-897-0581.

If you would like more information on Black Marriage Day visit www.sbc21ms.org.

Rev. John Bond, Seashore District, had major spinal surgery at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, April 1. Please keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Rev. Jodie Cothen, pastor of Lumberton/Maxie UMCs, is in Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg undergoing tests to try and discover the cause of extreme pain in the leg on which he had a knee replacement several months ago. Please remember Jodie and Teresa in your prayers.

Please be in continued prayer for Mary Broughton, two-year-old daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Scott Broughton (currently serving Sandy Hook UMC), as she continues in treatment. Mary has been diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia and is waiting for a bone marrow transplant.

Rev. Wayne Webster, FE Brookhaven First, is in Baptist Hospital. He had a heart catheterization, April 4. Please be in prayer for Wayne and the Webster family during this time of recovery.

Rev. Everette Watts of the WJD (Jackson: Emmanuel UMC) is in the Baptist Hospital, Jackson for testing. Let's keep Rev. Watts and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

Please continue to pray for Rev. Rayford Woodrick, retired clergy, employee of the East and West Jackson Districts, as he remains in the Baptist Hospital. We pray that he will be returning to his home soon.

Rev. John Wilson passed away Sunday night, April 3, 2011.  The visitation will be Wednesday night, April 6, from 5 -8 p.m. at McMillan Funeral Home in Booneville and funeral Thursday, April 7, at 1p.m. also at the funeral home.  Please remember David Wilson, John's son, in your prayers.  Rev. John had been retired for a number of years and his wife, Mrs. Ruth, passed away in 2008.

Diamondhead UMC is now taking applications for the positions of Worship Leader for our Celebration Service and pianist for our Heritage Service. These positions are part-time and one person could fill both positions. For more information or a copy of the job description contact Pastor Oscar McGough at brothero@cableone.net.

Rust College in Holly Springs seeks a College Chaplain. For further information, contact the personnel office at 662-252-2491, Attn: Ms. Patricia Pegues.

Crossgates UMC is looking for a self-motivated leader to fill the full-time position of Director of Children's Ministry. This person should possess a passion for working with children from birth to 6th grade, as well as their parents; be an energetic person who lives out their faith in all they do, and who will teach, encourage, and nurture our children in their relationship with God and one another.
Interested persons should contact Rev. John Moore at jmoore@crossgatesumc.org to receive a job description and application. The same may be obtained in the office of Crossgates UMC at 23 Crossgates Drive, Brandon, Mississippi (Monday through Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.). The deadline for receiving applications is April 15, 2011.

Brandon First UMC is seeking a part-time Children's Program Director to plan, coordinate, and implement ministry for children age 2 through fourth grade. Submit resume to Kminshew@comcast.net.

Rewarding Summer Counselor Spots Available: Young college students looking for invaluable experience in ministry this summer can apply for one of our paid Summer Counselor positions at Seashore United Methodist Assembly's Camp SUMA. Counselors are provided room and board and will be given the perfect opportunity to develop their interpersonal and leadership skills in a loving, Christ-Centered camp environment. Job responsibilities will include facilitating small groups, leading in-door and out-door challenge games, lifeguarding, but most importantly will act as role models to campers by spreading the love of Jesus Christ. Please contact Ginger at 228-806-9853 or ginger.suma@gmail.com. Seashore United Methodist Assembly, "Camp SUMA," is located in Biloxi, MS.

Candler School of Theology seeks an individual with experience, creativity, and commitment to the mission of the school to serve as the Director of Alumni Relations.
The Director will be responsible for building and nurturing relationships with current and new contributors to the institution and with alumni serving in various forms of ministry. As part of these activities, the Director will oversee the work of the Candler Alumni Board, lead Candler's Sr. Class Gift Campaign and reunion efforts, including @ twenty-five Candler Club gatherings at United Methodist Annual Conferences, and oversee events related to Emory Weekend, Commencement, and Candler's Lifelong Learning program. The Director will be expected to recruit alumni volunteers, ask individuals and organizations for current and planned gifts, and approach corporations, foundations, and ecclesial organizations for gifts.
The successful candidate will be an energetic individual who enthusiastically understands and embraces the mission of Candler School of Theology as a university-related theological school of the United Methodist Church and as a school of Emory University. He or she must have strong organizational and communication skills, be attentive to detail, and be willing to travel extensively. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Development and External Relations, the Director will function as an integral part of a team of development professionals whose responsibilities include a wide range of programs to benefit Candler, including major gifts, alumni relations, special events, communications, and a $60 m campaign. An effective working relationship with the Associate Dean as well as the Dean, staff of the Candler Development program, the University's Division of Development and Alumni Relations, alumni, faculty, staff and friends will be expected. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and preferably hold an earned theological degree at the master's level, will bring 4 years experience in higher education, development, fundraising, or equivalent experience in a non-profit institution, will appreciate the nature of the ordained ministry as well as the ministry of the laity, and will understand the structure of the United Methodist Church. Computer literacy and effective written and oral presentation skills are essential.
Qualified candidates should apply online at http://emory.jobs. Job Requisition ID: 21431BR. Please apply by April 15, 2011. Emory University is an EEO/AA employer.